Pittsburgh's average temperature in 2006 was 1.6 degrees above normal and temperatures across the state and nation were higher, too, an indication of the increases that likely will continue as the global climate changes, according to a report released yesterday by PennEnvironment.

The statewide environmental advocacy organization urged national, state and local political leaders to take immediate action to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, industry and vehicles by 80 percent by 2050.

According to the National Climate Data Center, 2006 was the second-warmest on record for Pittsburgh and the lower 48 states, and this year is on a path to be the second-warmest on record globally.

Justin Wasser, PennEnvironment field organizer, said Pittsburgh's higher temperatures last year were "part of the broader warming trend," and urged Gov. Ed Rendell to implement science-based greenhouse gas emission reductions. He also urged the region's U.S. senators and representatives to support already-introduced legislation that mandates the significant emissions reductions scientists say are needed to prevent the worst effects of global warming.

"Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of continued global warming," Mr. Wasser said. "The good news is that those same scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by taking bold action now to reduce global warming pollution."

Although global warming remains controversial, a large and growing consensus of leading scientists agree that the planet's climate is warming and that emissions of greenhouse gases from a variety of human sources likely is responsible for much of the change.

Jackie Erickson, who represented U.S. Sen. Bob Casey at the press conference in the Allegheny County Courthouse foyer, Downtown, said the senator takes the issue seriously and is committed to "strong, mandatory action on climate change,."

Mr. Casey is a co-sponsor of the Senate's Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, but U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills; Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair; and Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, have not said they will support the House companion legislation, the Safe Climate Act.

Mr. Rendell is expected to announce a statewide climate plan later this summer and environmental groups are lobbying for strict controls on greenhouse gas emissions. Pennsylvania is responsible for emitting about 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gases, or more than many countries.

Mr. Wasser said the environmental group is working to support state legislation that would encourage development of wind and solar power, and provide incentives "to inspire the market to shift greener and cleaner."

To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, PennEnvironment compared temperature data for the years 2000-06 from 255 weather stations located in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with temperatures averaged over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000.